Symbolic computation or algebraic computation or computer algebra relates to algorithms and software for manipulating mathematical expressions and equations in symbolic form, as opposed to manipulating the approximations of specific numerical quantities represented by those symbols. Software applications that perform symbolic calculations are called computer algebra systems.

These systems might be used for symbolic integration or differentiation, substitution of one expression into another, simplification of an expression, etc., for most operations of calculus and, more generally, for every computation with mathematical objects for which algorithms are known. Computer algebra software is widely used in many scientific and engineering domains.

Symbolic computation is also sometimes referred to as symbolic manipulation, symbolic processing, symbolic mathematics, or symbolic algebra, but these terms also refer to non-computational manipulation.

See also

• Automated theorem prover
• Computer-assisted proof
• Proof checker
• Model checker
• Symbolic-numeric computation
• Symbolic simulation

References

• Symbolic Computation (An Editorial), Bruno Buchberger, Journal of Symbolic Computation (1985) 1, pp. 1-6.

• Making Computer Algebra More Symbolic (Invited), Stephen M. Watt, pp. 43-49, Proc. Transgressive Computing 2006: A conference in honor or Jean Della Dora, (TC 2006), April 24-26 2006, Granada Spain.

External links

• A Gentle Introduction to Static Analysis and Logic Programming showing an example of application of symbolic computation to perform static program analysis.
• Information on Symbolic Computing A good site for beginners
• jHepWork A free program for symbolic calculations
• Wolfram Integrator — Free online symbolic integration with Mathematica
• Mathematical Assistant on Web — symbolic computations online. Allows to integrate in small steps (with hints for next step (integration by parts, substitution, partial fractions, application of formulas and others), powered by Maxima
• Function Calculator from WIMS
• Online integral calculator

This article is based on material taken from the Free On-line Dictionary of Computing prior to 1 November 2008 and incorporated under the "relicensing" terms of the GFDL, version 1.3 or later.